Security holder for keys and valuables



Sept. 29, 1942. H. MIETH 2,297,312

' SECURITY HOLDER FOR KEYS AND VALUABLES 7 Filed Jan. 51, 1940 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 SECURITY HOLDER FOR KEYS AND VALUABLES Herman Mieth, Louisville, Ky. Application January 31, 1940, Serial No. 316,522

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in a security-holder for keys and valuables, in which the clasp containing a chain, holder and splitring, is locked to the clothing; and the objects of my improvement are: first, to provide a clasp which can easily be attached to the clothing and locked so firmly that a release is impossible without unlocking: second, to prevent the loss of valuables held by the attached split-ring, the whole being proof against rough usage or pickpockets.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the front side of the clasp in its service position, securely clamped over a piece of clothing; the attached chain and a split-ring engaged in the holder; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, showing the split-ring and the split-ring holder with the chain attached, the double clasp, the hinge, the row of sharp teeth and the spring with its detent and projection; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the back-side of the outer-clasp showing a fragment of chain, the relative position of the safety-spring, and the spline-grooves on each side for assembling the outer to the inner-clasp; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the hinged inner-clasp, partially open, showing the hinged inner-wing thereof in the perspective, also the row of sharp teeth adapted to penetrate the garment in assembling; Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the edges of the back and front of the outer-clasp showing the detent and the extension of the safety-spring, the detent being adapted to hold the attachable inner-clasp in its service position, when the parts thereof are assembled; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the edges of the parts shown in Fig. 4, partially open, illustrating the hinge connecting the two wings, a side view of the spline-groove and the sharp row of teeth on the outer-wing; Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the clasp with the detachable inner-clasp as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, pushed halfway into the outer-clasp for assemblage on the garment, the position of the safety-spring and its detent, which, when the clasp is assembled, will snap down over the lower outer-wing of the innerclasp to securely hold it in its service position when the teeth will be firmly set into the garment without any possibility of the clasp being deranged by rough usage or pickpockets; a fragment of chain is shown as fastened to the lower part of the outer-wing; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the back-side of the inner-clasp showing the relative position of the two longitudinal splinegrooves on the sides thereof; Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the lower ends of the closed innerclasp, showing the row of sharp teeth across the ends thereof and an end view of the two integral spline-grooves thereon.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views- The front of the outer-clasp l, with a fragment of chain 4 attached, the back 5 thereof with its safety-spring 6a, and spline-grooves 1c, represents the outer-clasp; the inner-wing of the inner-clasp 1a, the outer-wing of the inner-clasp "I, and the teeth lb, indicates the inner-clasp; the safety-spring is represented by 6a and its detent by 6b; the split-ring is indicated by 2 and its holder by 3, the chain 4 and the garment 5.

The outer-clasp is U-shaped and of a spring type with an expansion on its ends suitable to cover light or heavy garments.

The application of the clasp is as follows: The opened inner-clasp is placed over the garment with its outer-wing over the inside of the garment and then closed, the outer-clasp is then placed over the inner-clasp and pushed down in the spline-grooves until the spring detent snaps over the lower end of the inner-clasp. In releasing the clasp from the garment, the spring projection is lifted off the lower end of the inner-clasp, the outer-clasp may then be drawn and out of the spline-grooves when the innerclasp may be easily opened and at the same time withdrawing the teeth from the clothing.

To prevent the chain in its downward pull from its own weight and accidental stress from inverting the clasp on the clothes and deranging the clothing, the chain is fastened to the bottom of the clasp.

While I have described a specific construction embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that changes in the material used for the parts, in their ornamental appearance, their co-action, and their details of construction, may be made to suit diiferent requirements for designs, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim:

The combination, in a security holder for keys and valuables, comprising an inner-clasp and an outer-clasp, said outer-clasp comprising a U- shaped member with a spring action, having a bight portion and two substantially parallel wings or legs, said outer-clasp also being guided in a channel-shaped guideway of the spline-grooves fastened to the inner-wing, which receives and holds the outer to the inner-clasp; said innerclasp having movable jaw portions arranged in similar parts opposed relation to each other, said inner-clasp being slidably guided within the outer-clasp; said outer-clasp having a substantially straight spring having one end thereof secured to the outside portion of one of said wings intermediate the ends thereof, said spring having a detent on its free end projecting into the guideway and path defined by said outer-clasp, whereby the innerclasp may be locked within the outer-clasp, said spring having a projection on its free end portion whereby the spring may be operated to retract the detent from the guideway to release the inner-clasp from its locked position within the outer-clasp.

HERMAN MIETH. 

